Fluid flow control valve and transfer set

Abstract

A multi-position rotary valve system is useable with a disposable fluid transfer set for carrying out a sequence of steps to implement a drain and fill procedure in connection with peritoneal dialysis. A method of carrying out peritoneal dialysis includes utilizing a rotary, multi-position, valve system in conjunction with a fluid flow transfer set having a plurality of flexible fluid flow conduits. The valve system provides for systematically opening and closing the respective fluid flow conduits in a predetermined sequence for the purpose of carrying out a drain and fill procedure of the type associated with peritoneal dialysis.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A multi-position mechanical apparatus for controlling fluid flow within a fluid transfer device having multiple, interconnected flexible, conduits normally open for fluid flow therethrough, the apparatus comprising: a base member for receiving a plurality of the interconnected fluid flow conduits; and   selecting means, including a rotatable member rotatable in only one direction, said selecting means removably affixable to said base member and supported movably by said base member for selectively blocking fluid flow through at least one of the members of the plurality of flexible fluid flow conduits, said selecting means being affixable to said base member only at a single rotational insertion/removal position.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said selecting means includes means for applying a clamping force to at least the one member of the plurality thereby temporarily deflecting a portion thereof closing the fluid flow pathway therein. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said selecting means includes means for indexing through a predetermined sequence of positions thereby clamping shut in said predetermined sequence selected members of the plurality of fluid flow conduits. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said means for indexing defines a plurality of predetermined sequence positions angularly displaced from one another. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said force applying means includes a surface for clamping shut selected members of the plurality of fluid flow conduits and at least one selectively shaped valve opening for selectively permitting fluid flow through at least one selected conduit associated with at least one sequence position. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said force applying means includes a selectively shaped valve opening defined on said rotatable member for selectively permitting fluid flow through selected members of the plurality of fluid flow conduits associated with selected members of said plurality of predetermined sequence positions. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said valve opening is formed with a first region, with a selected unclamped fluid flow conduit extendable therethrough, and with a shaped second region for slidably engaging the fluid flow conduit and for applying force thereto to clamp the conduit shut to block the flow of fluid therethrough as said rotatable member is rotated. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as in claim 7 including a second valve opening defined on said rotatable member, spaced from said first valve opening, so as to unclamp a second fluid flow conduit simultaneously with unclamping the first fluid flow conduit permitting fluid flow therebetween. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said indexing means includes a spring member, affixed at a first end to said base member, with a second member in slidable contact with said rotatable member so as to define said sequence of index positions. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein as said rotatable member rotates, said valve opening moves angularly from a first sequence position to a second sequence position in cooperation with said indexing means. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said indexing means includes means for retaining said movable member at each selected sequence position. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said retaining means exerts a predetermined retaining torque to retain said valve opening at each selected position with said valve opening movable to an adjacent, angularly displaced, position in response to an applied torque in excess of said retaining torque. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said indexing means permits rotation of said rotatable member in a selected direction and includes means blocking rotation opposite said selected direction. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said base member includes a plurality of spaced apart, conduit receiving apertures. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein each said conduit receiving aperture includes first and second spaced apart, surfaces joined by a third surface. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus as in claim 6 including a resilient member carried by said base member with said force applying means selectively clamping selected members of the plurality of fluid flow conduits against selected portions of said resilient member thereby blocking fluid flow therethrough. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said resilient member is a circular member. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus as in claim 17 wherein said resilient member has an essentially square cross section. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said resilient member is a gasket with a planar surface. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus as in claim 17 wherein said resilient member has an esentially circular cross section. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus as in claim 20 wherein said circular member is an O-ring. 
     
     
       22. An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein as said force applying means clamps at least one of the selected members of the plurality against a selected portion of said resilient member, said portion is deflected. 
     
     
       23. An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said selecting means includes a linearly movable member and said means for indexing defines a plurality of predetermined sequence positions linearly displaced from one another. 
     
     
       24. An apparatus as in claim 23 wherein said force applying means includes at least one region for selectively applying conduit clamping force to at least one selected conduit associated with at least one sequence position blocking fluid flow therethrough. 
     
     
       25. An apparatus as in claim 24 wherein said force applying means includes a selected valve opening, carried by said linearly movable member for selectively removing conduit clamping force from selected members of the plurality associated with said plurality of predetermined sequence positions. 
     
     
       26. An apparatus as in claim 25 wherein as said movable member moves linearly, said valve opening moves linearly from a first sequence location to a second sequence location in cooperation with said indexing means. 
     
     
       27. An apparatus as in claim 26 wherein said indexing means includes means for retaining said movable member at each selected sequence position. 
     
     
       28. An apparatus as in claim 27 wherein said retaining means exerts a predetermined retaining force to retain said valve opening at each selective position with said opening movable to an adjacent linearly displaced position in response to an applied force in excess of said retaining force. 
     
     
       29. An apparatus as in claim 27 wherein said indexing means permits linear movement of said member in a selected direction and includes means blocking movement opposite said selected direction. 
     
     
       30. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said base member has a selectively oriented, cylindrical member with a threaded end; and said selecting means being threaded for engagement with said threaded end of said cylindrical member.   
     
     
       31. A mechanical apparatus as in claim 30 including a cylindrical alignment member, carried by said selecting means and slidably receivable within said threaded cylindrical member as said selecting means moves toward said base. 
     
     
       32. A mechanical apparatus as in claim 30 with said threaded end including a plurality of spaced apart biased surfaces to pull said selecting means axially toward said base member as said means is rotated onto said base member. 
     
     
       33. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising flow indicator means associated with said selecting means. 
     
     
       34. A multi-position rotary valve for controlling fluid flow within a fluid transfer device having multiple, interconnected, flexible conduits normally open for fluid flow therethrough, the rotary valve comprising: a base member for receiving a plurality of interconnected fluid flow conduits; and   selecting means removably, and rotatably mountable on said base member for clamping shut selected of the fluid flow conduits with said selecting means defining at least one rotatably movable valve opening for unclamping selected of the fluid flow conduits and, permitting a flow of fluid therethrough as said selecting means is rotated, said selection means being rotatable in only one direction and mountable on said base only at a single rotational insertion/removal position.   
     
     
       35. A valve as in claim 34 wherein said base includes means for orienting the fluid transfer device such that said device can be properly positioned on said base with only a single orientation. 
     
     
       36. A valve as in claim 35 wherein said means for orienting is centrally located with respect to said base. 
     
     
       37. A valve as in claim 36 wherein said orienting means includes at least one region bounded in part by an arcuate surface. 
     
     
       38. A valve as in claim 37 wherein said orienting means includes a second region, spaced from said one region, bounded in part by an arcuate surface. 
     
     
       39. A valve as in claim 38 wherein said arcuate surface of said second region extends at least through an angle on the order of 60°. 
     
     
       40. A valve as in claim 37 wherein said arcuate surface extends through an angle on the order of 120°. 
     
     
       41. A valve as in claim 35 wherein said base member carries a discontinuous annular flange with said selecting means including a plurality of spaced apart, radially extending members for slidably engaging said discontinuous annular flange as said selecting means is rotated thereby rotatably locking said selecting means to said base member. 
     
     
       42. A valve as in claim 41 wherein said selecting means includes annular sliding means for clamping selected of the fluid flow conduits against at least one region of said base member. 
     
     
       43. A valve as in claim 41, wherein said annular sliding means includes an annular surface interrupted by said valve opening. 
     
     
       44. A valve as in claim 43, wherein said annular surface is interrupted by a second valve opening spaced from said valve opening. 
     
     
       45. A valve as in claim 44 wherein said two valve openings are spaced about 120° from one another. 
     
     
       46. A valve as in claim 43 wherein said valve opening includes a first region through which a section of a selected conduit can extend without being clamped shut. 
     
     
       47. A valve as in claim 46 wherein said valve opening includes a second region adjacent said first region, for slidably engaging the section of the selected conduit and for gradually forcing the section against a part of said base region thereby clamping the conduit shut and blocking the flow of fluid therethrough as said selecting means is rotated.